In a bid to promote environmental safety, protect water bodies, and strengthen the fight against illegal mining, forty-two (42) Blue Water Guards have been deployed to the Essikado area under the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA). The deployment aims to support ongoing efforts to promote responsible mining practices within the metropolis.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Steven Agbo, Community Relations Manager at the Minerals Commission, who represented the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, explained that the exercise sought to officially introduce and deploy the Blue Water Guards while encouraging stakeholder participation and support for the Blue Water Initiative. He added that the initiative also aims to caution against illegal mining and to educate communities on responsible mining practices approved by the Minerals Commission.

Mr. Agbo noted that the guards underwent a rigorous one-month training program conducted by the Ghana Navy in Jomoro, which included swimming tests and safety drills. Having successfully completed their assessments, they have been declared fully prepared for the task ahead.

Addressing public concerns about their role, Mr. Agbo emphasized that the Blue Water Guards are not a threat but a support team dedicated to protecting Ghana’s forests and water bodies from illegal mining and related environmental degradation. Their duties, he explained, include combating the destructive impacts of illegal mining (galamsey) while working closely with the Police and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

He further disclosed that all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Western Region, except the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, currently have Blue Water Guards in place. Among them, STMA has the largest team. He therefore urged the Assembly to use its authority to ensure the protection and safety of the deployed guards.

Mr. Kingsley Bennet Nunoo, Metro Budget Analyst, received the guards on behalf of the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE). He expressed gratitude to the Minerals Commission for assigning the team to STMA and assured that the Assembly would provide all necessary support for their work.

However, he emphasized the need for tangible results from the Water Guards’ efforts, urging them to ensure that their activities yield measurable outcomes that justify the investment made in their deployment